Over twenty published Michigan authors will be convening in Lakeview on Friday and Saturday, September 15th and 16th as part of the second annual Bios, Books & Brunch event at the Tamarack District Library. The authors will be sharing professional expertise and will be available for conversation, book sales, and book signings. The weekend kicks off on Friday night from 6:00 to 8:00 with a writing workshop, “Tell Your Story”, and continues on Saturday with an Author’s Tea from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.

Friday presenter Kevin Fitton holds an MFA in fiction from Bennington College and is the author of the children’s picture book “Higher Ground” with Caldecott-winning artist Mary Azarian. He has developed this workshop to explore the basic components of a story and how those components fit together, and it has received rave reviews wherever presented. Those wishing to attend may RSVP by calling the library at 989-352-6274. Cost is $15 with light lunch supplied. Space is limited for this workshop.

Celebration of the written word is planned to continue in an informal atmosphere on Saturday. Share tea or coffee, homemade scones and conversation with attending authors. Keynote speakers at 10 am will be Robbyn and Gijsbert (Nick) van Frankenhuyzen. These acclaimed children’s authors and illustrators will present a fascinating program blending natural science, journaling, storytelling and drawing. This hour of pure fun and learning is everyone’s favorite!

Thanks to generous donations by the authors participating, there will be a number of exciting door prizes. Library staff is looking forward to welcoming everyone who can make it! Please invite friends and family, and come ready to enjoy a great day of speakers, scones, and stories! Thanks to sponsorship by the Friends of the Tamarack District Library, this is is a free event, and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to come prepared to purchase some of the wonderful books that will be available for sale and signing, but there is no obligation to do so.

If you are an author that would like to participate, download a form, and send it to us via email or fax: 989-352-7713.

“Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi! Attend one of the many events and book discussions throughout the county. Don’t miss the closing event on October 3rd! To see all the events go to: https://www.montcalm.edu/one-book/events

Winner of the PEN/ Hemingway Award
Winner of the NBCC’s John Leonard AwardA New York Times Notable BookAWashington Post Notable BookOne of the Best Books of the Year: NPR, Time, Oprah.com, Harper’s Bazaar, San Francisco Chronicle, Mother Jones, Esquire, Elle, Paste, Entertainment Weekly, the Skimm, Minneapolis Star Tribune, BuzzFeed

From Random House:

Ghana, eighteenth century: two half sisters are born into different villages, each unaware of the other. One will marry an Englishman and lead a life of comfort in the palatial rooms of the Cape Coast Castle. The other will be captured in a raid on her village, imprisoned in the very same castle, and sold into slavery.

Homegoing follows the parallel paths of these sisters and their descendants through eight generations: from the Gold Coast to the plantations of Mississippi, from the American Civil War to Jazz Age Harlem. Yaa Gyasi’s extraordinary novel illuminates slavery’s troubled legacy both for those who were taken and those who stayed—and shows how the memory of captivity has been inscribed on the soul of our nation.

Boy Scout Lee Geister joined forces with the library to complete his Eagle Scout project, committing to building 10 of our Little Free Libraries. He and his troop did an amazing job!!! They delivered these beauties to the library on Monday night.

Today, our first artist, Cheyenne Rasmussen, picked up a Little Free Library to decorate. If you or someone you know is a talented artist, please talk with Hope about taking one of these home to decorate. We would love to have your participation!

Completed Little Free Libraries may be entered in the library’s Summerfest Art Show this June. Please see attached flyer for more information.

Are you interested in participating in the Little Free Library initiative at Tamarack District Library? We’d love to have you! There is still room to sign up as one – or all – of the following: Sponsors, Builders, Artists, Hosts, and Stewards. See attached form for more information, and feel free to call the library with questions.

We are very excited to see this project taking shape! Please share and invite others as well.

Teamwork! Many thanks to Lee, his parents Rich & Mindi Geister, the scouts of Troop 95, Scout Leader Rich Warchuck, and the many area businesses who supported Lee and the library by donating materials and funds for these gems of craftsmanship!

Dad and Scout Leader lending a hand.

What hard work and initiative can accomplish – with a lot of community support as well.

Unloading one of these carefully crafted little “book houses” – Lee is all smiles at a job well done!

The Tamarack District Library is hosting a juried art show during Lakeview Summerfest. Entries can be in any medium, any size. Register by May 31st if possible, artwork needs to be in place by June 12. See below for an entry form and more information.

The Tamarack District Library is holding a Poetry Contest with three age categories: Child, teen, and adult. Submit your entries by April 15th. Poetry slam and presentation of prizes is on April 20 at 7:00 PM.

Celebrate “World Read Aloud Day”, February 16th, 6-7 pm, by listening to Gordon Galloway and his granddaughter Claire read their new book “Christian and Lucky”. Gordon, a local resident, has authored many adult books but this is his first children’s book. His granddaughter is a 13-year old student at Rockford Middle School. The book is a true story about Gordon’s grandson, Christian, and his adventures with a stray cat named Lucky. Gordon will be selling his book with half of the proceeds going to the Foundation for Suicide Prevention in memory of his grandson.